Articles

March 1, 2010

Canine influenza virus, which first grabbed headlines in 2004, is back in the spotlight, thanks in part to the release of the first canine influenza vaccine. How concerned should shelters be? What preventive approaches should they take? Miranda Spindel, the ASPCA's director of veterinary outreach, helps separate fact from fiction.

January 1, 2010

In 2005, inmates at San Quentin State Prison began working with dogs from a local shelter, helping to socialize and prepare the canines for new homes. It's not a unique program: Dozens of prisons around the country have teamed up with area shelters and rescue groups.

November 1, 2009

Did you know that clickers can be used to benefit cats as well as dogs? A handful of volunteers, armed with clickers, fresh treats, and a few simple instructions, can reduce feline stress and bring shelter cats out of their shells.

November 1, 2009

In the shelter, it's hard to tell the difference between truly feral cats and those who are tame but acting frightened and reactive. The way you handle these cats can make all the difference'with time and TLC, they will show their true colors.

November 1, 2009

While the subject of catnip has provoked the occasional heated discussion on shelter listservs over the years, the experts interviewed for this story agreed that, for the majority of cats, there's nothing to ponder: Life is much more interesting with catnip.

November 1, 2009

The tradition of hound hunting poses major problems for shelters in Virginia. Every year during'and especially after'hunting season, they are flooded with hounds who are either stray, abandoned, or relinquished by hunters who no longer want to take care of them.

September 1, 2009

A series of three-day demonstrations of Pat Parelli's kinder, gentler approach to equines are at the heart of an HSUS initiative to improve the care of horses, who all too often end up abandoned, neglected, or sent to slaughter.

July 1, 2009

Most shelters weren't built with the needs of little dogs in mind, but there are steps that staff and volunteers can take that will make the environment much better for them. One shelter director created a special area just for the little guys 'Smallville' that resulted in remarkable behavior improvements.

July 1, 2009

A new DVD shows and tells shelters how to keep their dogs comfortable, healthy, and stimulated'with an eye toward encouraging the positive behaviors the dogs will need to be accepted in their new families.